Editorial. 
28 
with tlieiu, probing the same flowers for nectar and insects, but their 
method of doing so is very different, Their sliort wings give them no 
iiovering power, so perforce they liave to chng 'l"it-hketo stem, tendril, 
leaf or ilovver to gain the necessary provender for themselves and tlieir 
family. P. H. Goss, in " Birds of Jamaica," writes of their nesting 
habits as follows : 
■' The nest of this bird is very t'reciueiitly, perhaps usually, built iu 
' those low trees and bushes, from whose twigs depend the paper nests of the 
" brown wasps, and in close contiguity with them. The Grass Quits are said 
'■ to manifest the same predilection : it is a singular exercise of instinct, 
" almost of reason ; for the object is doubtless the defence afforded by the 
"presence of these formidable insects ; but ui)on what terms the league of 
"amity is contracted between the neighbours, I am iguoi-ant. 
" It is in the months of May, June, and July that this Creeper performs 
■' the business of incubation I have seen several 
" completed nests. One now befcn-e me is in the form of a globe, with a 
■' small opening below the side. The walls are very thick, composed of dry 
"grass, intermixed irregularly with the down of A-sr/e/j/ds. It appeared to 
"have been forsaken, from my having paid it too nmch attention." 
A similar nest, which was examined later, contained two eggs, 
greenish-white, thickly but indefinitely dashed with reddish, at the 
larger end, size § in. by rather less than ^ in. 'Hie following descrip- 
tion is from a body kindly sent me by our esteemed niendjer, Mr. 
Suggitt, who is receiving and housing the various consignments as they 
come to hand. 
Adult male : Upper surface black, excepting the rump, which 
is rich yellow ; the wings are black, with the outer web of primaries 
white at base and finelj' edged almost their entire length with the 
same hue; the secondaries, tertiaries and tail feathers are all linely 
tipped with white ; eye streak wliite ; throat (Uirkish grey ; under 
surface yellow, their hue being very deep and rich on tlie breast ; 
ventral region and under tail coverts whitish ; underside of wings 
white. Total length just over 4 in., wing expanse 0 in., tail 1^ in. 
Mr. P. 11. Gross describes this bird as being very conhding and that 
it can be closely observed in a state of nature at the distance of a few- 
feet. It is indeed a beautiful species and i most certainly hope that 
sufficient will be sent over for them to be distributed among those 
members having such aviaries as will give them a chance of breeding 
— this species is certainly worth jnore than its weight in gold. 
Red-throated Blue Tanager (Tanagreiia ruficoiUs)-. a 
pair of this lovely species which has been exhibited by our esteemed 
member, Mr. C. T. Maxwell, for the past two years — has come to hand 
in good condition and it is to be hoped that moi'e will follow, us they 
